Episode 468: Once more we turn out attention to the enigmatic text 1 Peter 3.18b-19 with an eye toward 4.6. I challenge the traditional view, offering a more consistent and coherent understanding of this tough text. Christ is risen, Christ is Lord, the angelic powers are subjected to Him, and this is good news for the church!
Tag Archives: gospel
Christ’s Proclamation to the Spirits, pt. 1
Episode 467: 1 Peter 3.18b-19 can be an enigmatic mystery. The traditional view sees Jesus going to the hadean realm and preaching the gospel to dead people for a posthumous opportunity at salvation. In this episode, I cut through the fog, approaching the text linguistically and exegetically for something a bit more coherent and consistent.
Alexander Campbell on Election & Reprobation
Episode 464: In 1817 Alexander Campbell wrote a circular letter for the churches within the Red Stone Baptist Association. Surprisingly, it contains a high view of divine sovereignty in election and reprobation. Also, there is a denial of Arminianism, as well as an implied agreement with John Calvin. Tune in as I read from this letter and get a sense of Campbell’s view on these biblical doctrines.
“He Glorified” in Romans 8.30
Episode 457: Yet another interpretation presents itself concerning the Golden Chain of Redemption in Romans 8.29-30, this one focusing on “He also glorified” at the end of verse 30. This particular take argues that since the aorist (past) tense is used, glorification is a already accomplished with a strong connection to baptism. In this episode, I take this view to task exegetically, contextually, and theologically to show that Paul’s use of the aorist does not negate his eschatological considerations.
K. C. Moser & The Gist of Romans
Episode 456: K. C. Moser was a preacher in the churches of Christ in the twentieth century (1920s-70s). He wrote several articles, pamphlets, as well as a couple books. In this episode, I take a brief look at his book The Gist of Romans with an eye to his other book The Way of Salvation. What can we possibly learn from this “ultra-Calvinist” (as one brother labeled [or libeled] him) or “semi-Calvinist” (as another brother styled him)? Tune in as we explore brother Moser’s grace-oriented, cross-focused, Christ-exalting approach to Romans.
Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pt. 4
Episode 455: I continue my reading of select excerpts from John Owen’s magisterial work Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We venture from part 2 to part 3 and begin working through communion with the Holy Spirit. We make it to part 3, chapter 3.
Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pt. 3
Episode 454: In this episode I continue my reading of John Owen’s Communion with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that is, select excerpts and underlined portions I found beneficial. I am confident you will be edified too!
Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, pt. 2
Episode 452: I continue to read from John Owen’s classic work Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Only minimal comments along the way so that Owen can be heard. I make it to chapter 6 of part 2. Tune in and be blessed by my favorite Puritan.
Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost by John Owen, pt. 1
Episode 451: John Owen is considered the weightiest of the Puritan writers. I recently finished reading Communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost by John Owen. Beginning in this episode, I read excerpts I underlined throughout the book. I get as far as the second digression in part 2. Tune in and be blessed by my favorite Puritan.
Cross-Purposes: How Distorting the Cross Distorts the Gospel
Episode 431: Liberal/Progressive theologians reinterpret the cross of Christ in a variety of ways. On this episode of the podcast, I tackle two primary ways liberal theologians distort the meaning of the cross of Christ: claiming the cross is “cosmic child abuse” and claiming “there is nothing divine in the blood of the cross.” Then, utilizing John R. W. Stott’s work, I explain the centrality of the cross to the life and message of Christ and why it was necessary for the Son of God to go to the cross.
Live from the Pulpit 